Read Online Firefly Summer by Nan Rossiter - Free Book Online

1992. She knew because that was the summer she’d been pregnant with Elias, and in the photo, taken on July fourth, she was very pregnant—Elias had made his grand entrance on August first. Piper picked up the photo and smiled. She was wearing one of Nat’s old oxford shirts over a very tight tank top and her sisters each had a hand on her belly. She’d always loved that photo—it was probably her favorite.
    Sailor came into the room, drying her hair with a towel, and looked over her shoulder. “I remember that day,” she said with a smile. “You were having Braxton Hicks and you insisted your baby was coming.”
    Piper laughed. “That was before I found out what a real contraction feels like.”
    â€œYou mean like having your insides ripped out?”
    â€œOr being stabbed with a white-hot poker.”
    They laughed and gave each other a long hug. “So, how’re you doing?” Piper asked, searching her sister’s eyes.
    â€œOkay,” Sailor replied. “Pretty good, actually. I’m totally in love with this place.”
    â€œI know,” Piper agreed, looking around. “It’s perfect. I love your furnishings,” she teased.
    Sailor laughed, knowing her sister meant her sparse furnishings. “I’m trying to simplify,” she said defensively. “Life with Frank was way too complicated—we had too many things . Now I’m feeling much freer and happier.”
    Piper smiled. “You look happier.”
    â€œThanks,” she said with a nod. “Now, what are you doing here so early? I thought you were coming tonight.”
    â€œI am but I had to be at the sanctuary this morning to help Nat look for a turtle, and then it got foggy . . . but now it’s beautiful.”
    Sailor laughed. “Yeah, I know what happens when you and Nat go looking for turtles,” she teased.
    Piper laughed. Her sisters had always inferred that “Looking for turtles with Nat” was code for something much more intimate, and over the years, whenever she said it, they raised their eyebrows and nodded knowingly.
    Piper rolled her eyes. “So, anyway, I knew you’d have fresh coffee, and since I didn’t get a chance to have any this morning, I thought I’d stop by and check out your new digs.” She looked around at all the boxes. “Do you need help unpacking?”
    â€œNo, thanks,” Sailor said, following her gaze. “It looks worse than it is.”
    â€œThat reminds me,” Piper began. “I was in the attic yesterday. . .”
    â€œHow is it up there?” Sailor said with a grin.
    â€œA disaster!” Piper said. “We really need to get through that stuff.”
    â€œWell, maybe now that I’m living out here, too, we can light a fire under Birdie and Remy and spend some time up there.”
    â€œThat would be great.”
    â€œWhy were you up there anyway?”
    â€œI was looking for Mom’s old cookbook.”
    â€œDid you find it?”
    Piper shook her head. “Do you have any idea where it might be?”
    Sailor frowned. “I don’t know. I haven’t seen it in years. Why are you looking for it?”
    â€œNat had a craving for rice pudding.”
    â€œAhh,” Sailor teased. “One of Nat’s famous cravings . . .”
    Piper laughed—her sisters knew all about Nat’s cravings, too . . . well, maybe not all .
    â€œWhy don’t you just look online for a recipe?”
    â€œBecause I want Mom’s recipe.”
    â€œWell, if anyone has the cookbook, it’s probably Remy.”
    Piper sipped her coffee and nodded. “Remind me to ask her.”
    Sailor went back to the bathroom to hang up her towel and retrieve her coffee. “C’mon,” she said. “You have to see the gardens.” Piper followed her outside and they walked out through the overgrown yard, trying to determine what flowers were